- From: Jon Gunderson <jongund@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
- Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 15:15:51 -0500
- To: w3c-wai-ua@w3.org
This message is in response to a action item I took at the FTF meeting at RFBD. I still need to do 5-11. The working group felt it was useful to the document and developers to have minimal requirements for each of the checkpoints for WIMP based grapical user interfaces. I propose the following minimal specifications and ask people to coment or make counter proposals. 1.1 Ensure that every functionality available through the user interface is also available through every input device API supported by the user agent. Excluded from this requirement are functionalities that are part of the input device API itself (e.g., text input for the keyboard API, pointer motion for the pointer API, etc.) [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment for all of the following options: 1. Menus: Users select command options from the menus using either only the keyboard or the pointer; or all of the functions located in the menus have a keybord short cut for activation. 2. Dialog boxes: User is able to move the application focus to every control in a dialog box using only the keyboard or only the mouse. 3. User interface controls (buttons, checkboxes, radio buttons, text edit conrols, list boxes...): User is able to change the state of the user interfaces controls using only the keyboard or only the mouse. The only exception is when a control accepts text as an input. In this case a mouse pointer is not required to generate text for the control. It is sufficent for the text input for a text control to come only from the keyboard API. Assistive tecnologies may provide an on-screen keyboard to generate text from the use of the pointer for some users in this case. 4. Window positioning and sizing controls: User is able to use only the keyboard or only the pointer to change the size and position of the 5. Toolbars: User is able to select command options from a toolbar using only the keyboard or only the pointer; or all the command options on the toolbard are available through other keyboard commands 6. Selecting content in a viewport (a common use of selection is for copying content to another application) 7. Drag and drop operations: The user is ablet accomplish the same task using only keyboard commands. 7.a Navigate and select the source object 7.b Navigate and select the target object 7.c User invokes "drop" functionality of the source object to the target object Note: It is not sufficient to claim that built-in accessibility features for pointer emulation functionality (i.e. mouse keys ) can be used to provide keyboard access, since mouse keys cannot identify to the user the source and target objects of the intended functions ========================================================== 1.2 Use the standard input and output device APIs of the operating system. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment for all of the following options: In general, the highest level API should be used to recieve input from the user or to render information to the user. This improves accessibility since it allows assistive technology to monitor user actions and information rendered to the user in the highest sematic form of the information. It also allows assistive technologies to not 1. Keyboard: Use standard keyboard or character APIs or process keyboard messages from the standard event cue 2. Pointer: Use the standard pointer APIs or process pointer message information from the standard event cue 3. Windows: Use standard window APIs for drawing information to the screen. Do not draw or directly manipulate hardware for visual rendering 4. Dialog boxes: Use standard dialog APIs so that assistive technology can identify the new window as a dialog box 5. Text information (Prose, numbers, numerial tables, text within charts): Text is drawn to the screen using standard text drawing APIs 6. Graphic information (icons, images, pictures, graphs, charts): Bit mapped images are drawn using standard bit map APIs 7. Lines, circles and other geometric objects: Geomatric objects are drawn using standard geometric drawing APIs 7.Audio sounds: Non-speech sounds or sampled speech is rendered through standard audio APIs. 8. Synthesized speech: Speech generated from text should use standard speech APIs to reduce conflicts with other audio events or generated speech. Minimum functionality required for devices that do not support assistive technologies natively, the user interface must provide an external interface to exchange information with a remote device. See guideline 5 for the information that must be exchanged. ========================================================== 1.3 Ensure that the user can interact with all active elements in a device-independent manner. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment for all of the following options: Already covered in 1.1 Form controls defined in HTML and other specifications are considered user interface controls for the purpose of device independent access. See guideline 5. ========================================================== 1.4 Ensure that every functionality available through the user interface is also available through the standard keyboard API. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment for all of the following options: Already covered in 1.1 For technologies that do not provide a keyboard or do not support a keyboard API (Kiosks, mobile devices) the user agent must support an external interface for controlling the user agent from a remote device. ========================================================== 1.5 Ensure every non-text message (e.g., prompt, alert, etc.) available through the user interface also has a text equivalent in the user interface. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment includes all the following items: 1. Audio sounds or speech use to provide information to the user also has a text equivalant of the information avalable in the user interface (i.e in the status bar or through a message box) 2. Icons: Icons that convey information also have a text equivalent of the information. For example, when an icon indicates the severity of a warning to the user should also have a text equivaent of the severity ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 2.1 Ensure that the user has access to all content, including equivalent alternatives for content. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment for all of the following options: 1. The user must be able to configure the user agent to render alternative content through the supported output devices. For graphical displays alternative text must be rendered in its entirety as text on the graphical display in the same relative location as the primary content would have been rendered. The user agent can also render primary content if is chooses to do so. 2. As users adjust the rendering of content through the supported output devices all content should remain available. For example, as the user adjusts the default font size the user agent should appropriately wrap text within the current view port. If the user adjusts the font size through changing the scale through a zoom function and the rendered information does not fit within the view port the user agent sould provide a scrolling function so the user can move the view port to examine all the content. ========================================================== 2.2 For presentations that require user input within a specified time interval, allow the user to configure the time interval (e.g., to extend it or to cause the user agent to pause the presentation automatically and await user input before proceeding). [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment when the user agent can recognize markup that indicates an author specified time interval for a user response allow the user the option of at least one of the following options: 1. Allow the user to adjust the time scale to at least 5 times the time interval specified by the author. 2. At the end of the author supplied time interval. Automatically pause the presentation until the user explicitly restarts the presentation. While the presentation is pauses the user needs to interact with the current user interface controls. ========================================================== 2.3 When the author has not supplied a text equivalent for content as required by the markup language, make available other author-supplied information about the content (e.g., object type, file name, etc.). [Priority 2] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment when a text equivalent is not supplied is to render the source or target the target information for the resource. ========================================================== 2.4 When a text equivalent for content is explicitly empty (i.e., an empty string), render nothing. [Priority 3] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment requires all the following items: 1. The user agent ignores the element (i.e. display equals none in CSS). This is for compatibility with the WCAG. ========================================================== 2.5 If more than one equivalent alternative is available for content, allow the user to choose from among the alternatives. This includes the choice of viewing no alternatives. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment is that the user agent ignore the element (i.e. display equals none in CSS). This is explicitly include for compatibility with the WCAG. 1. Allow the user to configure the user agent for their preference of the type of alternative equivalents they would like rendered (i.e. language preference for an audio description of a video presentation) . 2. When there is no user information on which alternative equivalent they prefer, prompt the user with the choice of alternative equivalents available ========================================================== 2.6 Allow the user to specify that text transcripts, collated text transcripts, captions, and auditory descriptions be rendered at the same time as the associated auditory and visual tracks. Respect author-supplied synchronization cues during rendering. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment includes all the following items: 1. The user agent renders alternative equivalents for synchronized multi-media presentations at the same time as primary content. 2. The user agent gives the user an option to view the alternative equivalents in a separate view port from the primary content. ========================================================== 2.7 For author-identified but unsupported natural languages, allow the user to request notification of language changes in content. [Priority 3] Minimum functionality required includes: 1. Insert a text message before and after the language change indicating the start or end of the language change and the name of the author specified language. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3.1 Allow the user to turn on and off rendering of background images. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment is to ignore author specified markup for background images. ========================================================== 3.2 Allow the user to turn on and off rendering of background audio. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required is to ignore author specified markup for background audio. ========================================================== 3.3 Allow the user to turn on and off rendering of video. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment is to either ignore author specified markup for video or automatically hide the view port the video is being rendered to the user. ========================================================== 3.4 Allow the user to turn on and off rendering of audio. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required is to either ignore author specified markup for audio or automatically turn the volume to zero of the audio channel(s) the sound resource while the audio is playing. ========================================================== 3.5 Allow the user to turn on and off animated or blinking text. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment is to disable the blinking or animation of text (the text should be left on) and to fully render text of a marquee. ========================================================== 3.6 Allow the user to turn on and off animations and blinking images. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment is to disable the blinking or animation of image (the image should be left on). ========================================================== 3.7 Allow the user to turn on and off support for scripts and applets. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment is to disable the execution of scripts and applets (the image should be left on). ========================================================== 3.8 For automatic content changes specified by the author (e.g., redirection and content refresh), allow the user to slow the rate of change. [Priority 2] Minimum functionality required for author specified automatic content changes ========================================================== 3.9 Allow the user to turn on and off rendering of images. [Priority 3] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment when the user agent can recognize markup that indicates an author specified time interval for automatic timing changes allow the user the option of at least one of the following options: 1. Allow the user to adjust the time scale to at least 30 times the time interval specified by the author. 2. At the end of the author supplied time interval prompt the user to refresh, not to refresh or to never automatically refresh. The user should be able to manually refresh the page. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 4.1 Allow the user to configure the size of text. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment included the following capabilities: 1. The user agent must be able to configure the user agent to ignore author specified in-line markup for font size and turn off author referenced style sheets. 2. The user agent must allow the user agent to change the size of the fonts used in the default style sheet; and/or allow the user to specify font sizes through user style sheets ========================================================== 4.2 Allow the user to configure font family. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment included the following capabilities: 1. The user agent must be able to configure the user agent to ignore author specified font styles and families and turn off author referenced style sheets. 2. The user agent must allow the user agent to change the size of the font family and at least one sans-serf font must be available in the choices (for non-western fonts there are other specifications needed) used in the default style sheet; and/or allow the user to specify font family through user style sheets ========================================================== 4.3 Allow the user to configure foreground color. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment included the following capabilities: 1. The user agent must be able to configure the user agent to ignore author specified inline foreground color information and turn off author referenced style sheets. 2. The user agent must allow the user agent to change the foreground color in the default style sheet; and/or allow the user to specify foreground color through user style sheets ========================================================== 4.4 Allow the user to configure background color. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required for WIMP (Windows, Icons, Menu, Pointer) based environment included the following capabilities: 3. The user agent must be able to configure the user agent to ignore author specified inline background color information and turn off author referenced style sheets. 4. The user agent must allow the user agent to change the background color in the default style sheet; and/or allow the user to specify background color through user style sheets ========================================================== 4.5 Allow the user to slow the presentation rate of audio, video, and animations. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required include the following capabilities: 1. Video and animated images: Use signal processing techniques to decrease the frame rate to the user to at least a ¼ of the original speed. 2. Audio: Use signal processing techniques to decrease the speech rate (with pitch adjustment) to at least a half of the original speed 3. Respect synchronization cues for multi-media presentation that the user agent can detect. Allow the user to listen to audio even if the video rate requires significant distortion to the audio. The user in other checkpoints has the ability to turn the audio off if they wan to. ========================================================== 4.6 Allow the user to start, stop, pause, advance, and rewind audio, video, and animations. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required is self-explanatory. ========================================================== 4.7 Allow the user to configure the position of text transcripts, collated text transcripts, and captions on graphical displays. [Priority 1] ========================================================== 4.8 Allow the user to configure the audio volume. [Priority 2] Minimum functionality required is self-explanatory. One option needs to include no volume. ========================================================== 4.9 Allow the user to configure synthesized speech playback rate. [Priority 1] Minimum requirement is to allow the user to adjust the rate over the entire range of rates supported by the synthesized speech device. ========================================================== 4.10 Allow the user to configure synthesized speech volume. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required is self-explanatory. One option needs to include no volume. ========================================================== 4.11 Allow the user to configure synthesized speech pitch, gender, and other articulation characteristics. [Priority 2] Minimum functionality required is self-explanatory. Minimum requirement is to allow the user to adjust the characteristic over the entire range supported by the synthesized speech device. ========================================================== 4.12 Allow the user to select from available author and user style sheets or to ignore them. [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required is self-explanatory. Support cascading order of author and user style sheets specified in CSS2. ========================================================== 4.13 Allow the user to configure how the selection is highlighted (e.g., foreground and background color). [Priority 1] Minimum functionality required is the range of colors supported by the current display settings for both foreground and background colors. ========================================================== 4.14 Allow the user to configure how the content focus is highlighted (e.g., foreground and background color). Minimum functionality required is either one of the following options: 1. Draw a border around the item with focus. The user should be able to adjust the border style, thickness and color. 2. Change the color of the item with focus. The user should be able to adjust the color used for focus. For images and other bitmaps that can receive focus allow the color to be used as filter (like a looking through tinted glasses). ========================================================== 4.15 Allow the user to configure how the focus changes. [Priority 2] Minimum functionality required is to allow the user to configure if focus changes to windows that are not specifically requested by the user. See techniques for various ways to provide the user with control over focus changes. ========================================================== 4.16 For those viewports, prompts, and windows that open without an explicit request from the user, allow the user to configure how they open. [Priority 2] This may need to be deleted, but the minimum requirement is that new windows inherit the user preferences for accessibility of the current window. If this is the minimum requirement then the checkpoint should be changed to all windows, not just ones that are unexpected. Jon Gunderson, Ph.D., ATP Coordinator of Assistive Communication and Information Technology Chair, W3C WAI User Agent Working Group Division of Rehabilitation - Education Services College of Applied Life Studies University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign 1207 S. Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820 Voice: (217) 244-5870 Fax: (217) 333-0248 E-mail: jongund@uiuc.edu WWW: http://www.staff.uiuc.edu/~jongund WWW: http://www.w3.org/wai/ua
Received on Wednesday, 12 April 2000 16:16:02 UTC